All posts by z3u9t.icu

Chelsea’s summer spending spree is showing no sign of slowing down.

So far, the Blues have made eight new signings this summer, including bringing in Liam Delap, João Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Estêvão Willian and others.

However, they’ve still got plenty to do in the transfer market.

Right now, by our count, the Blues have 46 senior players on their books, but one could be on the way out, making way for another exciting young talent to arrive in West London.

Chelsea set to bolster their attacking options

As already alluded to, Chelsea are seeking to offload at least a dozen high-profile players in the next month or so, with Mike McGrath of the Telegraph reporting that Raheem Sterling could be on his way to Fulham.

One player who is closer to the exit door is João Félix who, according to David Ornstein and Simon Johnson of the Athletic, is set to join Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr for around £26.2m, amid interest from boyhood club Benfica.

The Portuguese only joined Chelsea permanently from Atlético Madrid for £45m a year ago, but has scored just 11 goals in 40 appearances for the Blues across his two spells, spending the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan, thereby very much not in Enzo Maresca’s plans.

So, with Félix on his way out, Chelsea are on the cusp of bringing in a replacement, with journalist Ben Jacobs noting that they are “advancing talks” to sign Xavi Simons, with “terms now broadly in place” to bring him to England. Club-to-club talks are ongoing to find a full agreement over a fee.

James Olley of ESPN claims that the Blues are willing to spend around £50m, with Leipzig holding out for closer to £60m.

So, will he soon become the 15th Dutchman to call Stamford Bridge home, following in the footsteps of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Ruud Gullit, Arjen Robben and others?

How Xavi Simons will improve Chelsea

Simons is certainly a highly-rated player, with Sultan Babajide of Breaking the Lines asserting that he is ‘destined for the top’, noting how he is ‘brilliant between the lines’.

Meantime, Bart Vlietstra of the Guardian believes there has always been ‘something irresistible’ about a player he labels a ‘precocious’ talent, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout agrees, describing him as a ‘fascinating player’.

Simons’ career breakthrough came at PSV Eindhoven, scoring 22 goals and registering 11 assists in just 48 outings for the Dutch giants, while he has also racked up 21 goals and 23 assists in 76 appearances since making the move to RB Leipzig.

So how does he compare to the player he’s set to replace in the Chelsea squad Félix? Let’s find out.

Appearances

33

41

Goals

11

10

Assists

8

3

Appearances

43

44

Goals

10

10

Assists

15

6

Appearances

48

40

Goals

22

9

Assists

11

3

As the table outlines, ever since Simons became a regular first-team player at PSV, his statistics have been more impressive than those of Félix.

The Portuguese international’s £113m move to Atlético Madrid back in 2019, making him the fourth-most expensive player of all-time, has turned out to be one of football’s great what if moves, with Jack Lang of the Athletic noting that he is widely-regarded as having ‘wasted his talent’, never able to fit into the playing style or system at any of the clubs he’s featured for since Benfica.

Simons, in contrast, is a player on the way up, likely to get even better, so he could have an enormous impact at Chelsea, potentially elevating them to a level where they’re fighting for the Premier League title and Champions League supremacy once again.

Better signing than Simons: Chelsea could see bid accepted for £34m star

Chelsea will need to improve their defence this summer

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 27, 2025

Glasgow Rangers have one foot in the play-off round of Champions League qualifiers after they hammered Viktoria Plzen 3-0 at Ibrox on Tuesday night.

Djeidi Gassama continued his electric start to life in Glasgow with two goals on the night, making it four goals in four matches after an impressive opening three outings against Panathinaikos and Motherwell.

Minutes

15

34

83

Shots

1

1

2

Goals

1

1

0

Key passes

0

0

1

Dribbles completed

2/2

0/1

2/3

Cyriel Dessers also scored from the penalty spot and assisted the opening goal for the former Sheffield Wednesday man against the Czechia outfit.

There was also an Ibrox debut given by Russell Martin. Oliver Antman is still unpacking his boxes after a switch from Go Ahead Eagles, yet was able to put in an impressive performance.

Oliver Antman's impressive debut for Rangers

The Finland international did not need any time to settle into life at Ibrox, as he was thrown into the starting XI and heavily contributed to two of the three goals.

It was his driving run, coming inside from the right, that resulted in him being tripped up inside the box, forcing the referee to award the penalty that Dessers scored from.

Antman also delivered a peach of a cross from the right flank to tee up Gassama for his second goal of the night, whipping an inch-perfect ball onto his head.

Whilst the Finnish forward may share the same name as an Avenger, it is another Rangers star who has emerged as their own superhero – Nasser Djiga.

Why Nasser Djiga is the new Rangers superhero

The Burkina Faso international was even better than Gassama and Antman on the night, as he put in a virtually fautless display at the heart of the defence, whilst the two wingers still lost possession and fluffed attacks to go along with their impressive contributions.

Playing Martin’s style of football is not easy. Rangers need players who are mobile enough to recover situations when the team commit turnovers in their own half, as well as players who are confident and composed enough to make passes under pressure.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Djiga showed that he is the perfect central defender for the way that the manager wants to play, as he was a colossus defensively and immaculate in possession.

His best contribution in the match came when the Gers were 1-0 up. Matej Vydra had the ball with time and space to pull the trigger around the penalty spot, but the Wolves loanee seemed to come out of nowhere to make a sprawling, goal-saving, block.

There was also moment in the 60th minute when John Souttar played a careless pass that put his side in danger, but Djiga used his pace to recover the ball in behind and retained possession with a clever first-time pass to Max Aarons.

He had countless moments like that throughout the game, including one to cover for an out of position James Tavernier in the closing seconds, to prevent the away side from creating anything of note, making numerous blocks and recoveries to keep Jack Butland quiet.

His faultless defensive performance was even more impressive than Gassama and Antman’s exploits on the wing because of how difficult it it to play the way Martin wants to play, which is why it was such a brilliant showing from the defender.

Rangers could unlock Gassama's full potential in move for "offensive" star

Glasgow Rangers could unlock Djeidi Gassama’s full potential in a move for this star.

ByDan Emery Aug 5, 2025

Djiga may not be Antman, but the 22-year-old titan could be the Man of Steel for Rangers.

Will Nottingham Forest continue to be busy in the transfer market, ahead of their Premier League opener against Brentford on Sunday?

So far, the Garibaldi Reds have signed goalkeeper Angus Gunn, Brazilian duo Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha, both from Botafogo, and, most recently and most excitingly, winger Dan Ndoye from Bologna, costing a reported fee of £34m.

Having finished seventh last season, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are preparing for a European campaign, the first time Forest have competed on the continent in 30 years, meaning squad depth will be key, so are they set to bolster their midfield options further?

Nottingham Forest targeting midfield reinforcements

Despite making four new additions, the best piece of business Nottingham Forest have done this summer, without question, is keeping hold of Morgan Gibbs-White.

The 25 year old appeared destined to depart when Tottenham triggered his £60m release clause, but Spurs were ultimately left ‘stunned’ when the midfielder signed a new three-year contract instead, news that came completely out of the blue.

This is a serious statement of intent from Forest, able to keep hold of their best player, so will they now bolster their midfield options to help get the best out of Gibbs-White?

Well, amid talk that they are on the verge of signing James McAtee from Manchester City, another top midfielder could be on their way to Nottingham.

According to a report by TEAMtalk, Nottingham Forest are ‘plotting’ a move to sign Yunus Musah from AC Milan, adding that they’re ‘considering making a bid’ for the United States international, valued at around £22m.

The Rossoneri have reappointed Massimiliano Allegri as head coach this summer, following a catastrophic campaign that saw them finish eighth in Serie A, failing to qualify for any European competition.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

During Il Diavolo’s pre-season tour of Asia last month, newly-hired sporting director Igli Tare stated that “I consider Musah an excellent player, but we are looking for profiles with characteristics that fit the [Allegri] project”, which very much sounds like they’re open to a sale.

So, could the 22-year-old soon swap San Siro for the City Ground?

What Nottingham Forest fans should expect from Yunus Musah

Born in New York City, Musah’s family moved to London when he was just nine years old, subsequently spending seven years in Arsenal’s Hale End academy, before moving to Valencia at the age of 16.

After starting out in los Murciélagos’ B team, he made his senior debut a year after arriving, accumulating 108 appearances for los Che.

His performances caught AC Milan’s attention, joining the Italian giants for a reported fee of £17m two summers ago, featuring 80 times across two seasons for the Rossoneri, albeit he only started 19 Serie A matches last time round.

Musah has also won 47 caps for the United States, although his importance has diminished since the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino last year, with Taylor Rockwell of Total Soccer Show noting that he needs to be starting games regularly at club level as a central midfielder if he harbours realistic hopes of being an important figure at the World Cup.

Well, still only 22 years old, Musah certainly could do so at a high level, with Greg O’Keeffe of the Athletic labelling him an “exciting midfield talent”.

Robbie Dunne of Opta’s the Analyst agrees, asserting that he is ‘immensely talented’ and capable of carrying out any instructions, given that he is able to ‘cover lots of ground quickly’, hence why coaches often shunt him out-wide, even though he is best utilised centrally, with ball-carrying his ‘greatest strength’.

Meantime, Mario Husillos Jr. of Total Football Analysis notes that his ‘influence can be seen all across the pitch when deployed in a central role, thereby given license to ‘get close to the defenders to help in the buildup’.

This certainly sounds as though Musah would be the hard-working, hard-running type of defensive midfielder who would be able to get the best out of Gibbs-White, so let’s compare their respective statistics last season.

Appearances

38

40

Minutes

3,142

2,237

Goals

7

Zero

Assists

10

3

All statistics below are on a per-90 basis:

Shots

1.6

1

Chances created

1.6

1.4

Big chances created

0.32

0.17

Shot-creating actions

3.69

2.50

Goal-creating actions

0.61

0.18

Pass completion %

81%

89%

Tackles

1.4

1.6

Ball recoveries

4.1

3.5

Touches

55.5

53.9

The table first and foremost emphasises Musah’s lack of importance at AC Milan, given that he actually made two more appearances than Gibbs-White across all competitions last season, but accumulated almost 1000 fewer minutes.

On top of this, the table outlines why the duo could form an excellent partnership in midfield.

The England international is the creator in chief, hence why his numbers when it comes to goals, assists, shots and chances created are all exponentially higher.

The American, on the other hand, is more secure in possession, completing a higher percentage of his passes, while posting better defensive numbers, most notably in terms of tackles.

At the base of Nottingham Forest’s midfield, there is a spot up for grabs alongside Elliot Anderson, so Musah could be the man for that position, allowing Gibbs-White, deployed as a number ten, to flourish for Nuno’s team.

Nottingham Forest in talks to sign "outstanding" ace; same agent as Awoniyi

This could be a great signing for Nuno Espirito Santo.

1 ByHenry Jackson Aug 9, 2025

Newcastle United have held talks with a “great” player’s agent ahead of a potential move this summer, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Howe feeling positive amid Isak saga

The Magpies made a respectable start to their Premier League season, drawing 0-0 away to Aston Villa on Saturday, in a result that Eddie Howe would surely have taken before the game. The Newcastle manager has now spoken positively about the feel within the group, even though the Alexander Isak situation is still far from sorted.

“We had to change the narrative around us really because everything was negative and sometimes that can consume you. We’ve consistently had players here that have fought really hard for the club in difficult circumstances before and we’ve always come through as a better team for it. This is a unique situation and a difficult situation for the players to handle but today I think they were brilliant in their response.”

For Newcastle, it’s now a case of enjoying a strong end to the summer transfer window, looking to not only keep hold of Isak, but also signing further players after the weekend addition of Jacob Ramsey from Villa, with the likes of Yoana Wissa and Nicolas Jackson potential options.

Newcastle hold talks with Italian star's agent

In a new development, Newcastle are said to have made contact with Davide Frattesi’s agent over a move to St James’ Park this summer. It is going to be “very difficult” to get a deal over the line, with Inter Milan wanting to keep hold of an important midfielder.

This comes after a weekend claim that the Magpies had seen a bid for the 25-year-old rejected, when in fact, this new update suggests an offer is yet to be made.

Frattesi joining Newcastle does admittedly feel unlikely at this point, but if the situation does change, he could be a fantastic addition, helping boost Howe’s squad depth ahead of his side’s return to the Champions League.

The Italy international has been an impressive performer for Inter, winning one Serie A title and helping them reach last season’s Champions League final, while the legendary Roberto Baggio has praised him in the past.

“I didn’t follow much on the transfer market, but two moves stuck in my mind. The first is Tonali ‘s move to Newcastle, which I didn’t expect. Milan lose a lot without him. The other is Frattesi’s move to Inter, because he’s a player I like and follow. This is a great coup.”

More exciting than Wissa & Ramos: Newcastle ready huge bid to sign PL star

Newcastle could sign a more exciting player than Wissa and Ramos in the final weeks of the window.

1 ByMatt Dawson Aug 18, 2025

If Newcastle can sign Frattesi, keep Isak and also bring in another striker to make up for the loss of Callum Wilson, a disappointing summer would suddenly feel very productive.

Chelsea have now been in “direct contact” with a club’s “super boss” to discuss a move for a “fascinating” new signing in the final days of the market.

Blues' transfer activity hinges on outgoings

After a frantic start to the summer transfer window, there has been little recent activity at Stamford Bridge, with Todd Boehly focused on getting current players off the books before being able to bring in more new signings.

That has been the case for quite some time, with Fabrizio Romano nearly two weeks ago revealing the Blues are looking to sell both Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson before bringing in two new attackers.

Aston Villa have subsequently made Jackson their top target, while there is no shortage of interest in Nkunku, with Bayern Munich and Newcastle United being named as potential suitors.

Consequently, Enzo Maresca’s side should have little trouble sealing the departures of the two forwards, which would create space in the squad for both RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho.

According to an update from Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on X, Chelsea have recently engaged in fresh talks over a deal for Simons, having been in “direct contact” with RB Leipzig “super boss” Oliver Mintzlaff.

Chelsea's stance on Robert Sanchez as odds of Mike Maignan deal revealed

The west Londoners have been linked with a new keeper this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 23, 2025

The Blues will “remain keen” on signing the Leipzig maestro right up until deadline day, and he is said to have agreed a deal until 2031, but the west Londoners are still waiting to finalize the sales of Jackson and Nkunku before advancing the deal any further.

"Fascinating" Simons could excel at Stamford Bridge

Given his fantastic goal and assist record in the Bundesliga, the Dutchman received high praise from scout Jacek Kulig during the 2024/25 campaign.

Not only that, but the RB Leipzig star, who is expected to cost £60m, has been lauded by former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, who also revealed what he thinks the 22-year-old’s best position is.

Tuchel said: “I think his best position is half winger, half 10, so he can be free. He is technically strong, calm with the ball, and very good in front of goal.”

With Nkunku scoring just three Premier League goals last season, and Jackson massively underperforming his xG over the past year, Chelsea could do with a new attacker who is clinical in front of goal, and Tuchel seems to believe Simons fits the bill.

Liverpool might have ‘won’ the transfer window, but so often Premier League sides have flattered to deceive after spending liberally across the summer months.

In fairness, Liverpool lost the Community Shield against Crystal Palace last month and looked shaky in defence across their opening couple of fixtures. Florian Wirtz, £116m signing from Bayer Leverkusen, has yet to come alive.

That’s one way of looking at it. There’s also the fact that the top-flight champions have claimed nine points from nine to head into the international break at the summit, with Hugo Ekitike having scored three goals and supplied an assist across his first four appearances in Red.

Liverpool ended their incredible summer window with the record-breaking signing of Alexander Isak, who joins from Newcastle United on a £125m deal. However, some might feel that Ekitike might have already nailed down a starting berth, with three goals and an assist from four appearances.

He’s not the finished article, but Liverpool saw a chance to sign the burgeoning French forward and acted, with the view that he could soon become one of the very best in the business.

Why Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike

After playing so confidently as Eintracht Frankfurt’s senior striker last season, talent scout Jacek Kulig remarked that Ekitike “could definitely reach world-class striker levels”.

Many feel that the jump from a division like the Bundesliga to the Premier League can be a step too far for some talented young players, but Ekitike is not part of that crowd and has indeed been one of Liverpool’s best players so far this season, scoring three goals and supplying one assist across his first four matches.

His fast start shouldn’t detract from the fact that the 23-year-old Ekitike is a work in progress, with his performance against Arsenal last weekend leaving much to be desired, failing to take a shot, blowing both attempted dribbles, completing two passes and losing six of eight contested duels, as per Sofascore.

Still, Isak’s going to have his work cut out on Merseyside this season, battling for a starting spot with this rising France striker.

Players like Isak and Wirtz are almost outliers in Liverpool’s transfer strategy, both having arrived on record-breaking deals this summer. There lies the truth of Liverpool’s new position of strength at the top of the food chain.

But Ekitike, though arriving for a hefty figure, has several years of development to undertake before he reaches the refined level of someone like Isak.

Liverpool saw an opportunity and they snatched at it. As is FSG’s way. Just look at the transformational signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion two years ago.

Liverpool struck gold with Alexis Mac Allister

Admittedly, Liverpool forked out a far prettier penny for Ekitike, wowing the Premier League when landing World Cup hero Mac Allister from Brighton for just £35m.

Jurgen Klopp oversaw the move, shipping off some of Liverpool’s long-standing midfielders in a clearout which sparked this new wave of success, Slot taking the wheel.

And while Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo have all played roles of differing, yet noteworthy, importance, none have exuded Mac Allister’s control, composure and quality across the full span of their time on Merseyside.

The Argentina international’s first Premier League term with the Reds, he stabilised the ship. Then, after a change in management, the £150k-per-week talent played a talismanic part in winning the top-flight title, so authoritative and dynamic in the middle of the park.

Matches (starts)

33 (31)

35 (30)

Goals

5

5

Assists

5

5

Touches*

74.2

55.8

Pass completion

88%

87%

Big chances created

3

6

Key passes*

1.4

1.3

Dribbles*

0.5

0.5

Ball recoveries*

5.9

4.2

Tackles + interceptions*

4.1

3.3

Ground duels (won)*

5.0 (50%)

4.3 (50%)

Shifting between midfield berths was never going to pose a problem for the South American, whose technical qualities and athleticism lend themselves to different roles. Pundit Joe Cole took note of this, remarking that the “superstar” is adept enough to “play anywhere” he is tasked to perform.

He might not be positionally comparable to Mac Allister, but Ekitike might be required to occupy various positions in a similar way, jockeying for a place with Isak at the front of the Liverpool ship.

However, his early foray into life in Red certainly suggests that Ekitike has both the talent levels and the adaptability to thrive under Slot’s leadership, as has been the case for Mac Allister over his two differing years at the club.

Renowned for his shooting ability and maestro-like vision in the middle of the pitch, Mac Allister has also been one of the division’s consistent tacklers over his time at Liverpool, finishing sixth with 94 won last season and sixth with 98 during the 2023/24 season.

Is it any surprise that the former Seagull’s market value will have risen exponentially over these past few years? Indeed, according to Football Transfers, the 26-year-old is worth a jaw-dropping £116m fee right now, bearing testament to his progress across the past several seasons.

In fact, not only is Mac Allister worth a lot more than Ekitike, who might be hoped to follow a similar path, but the difference in value between Mac Allister’s £35m signing and his current worth exceeds the entire sum Liverpool paid Frankfurt for their Les Bleus forward just over one month ago.

That goes to show that Mac Allister made the right decision in furthering his career at Liverpool, and that Ekitike too could find himself falling into a similar ballpark, especially after his promising start to life in Red.

For now, though, Mac Allister is the man with the shiny price tag, having quietly put himself alongside the cream of Liverpool’s crop, those such as Isak and Wirtz.

Forget Leoni: Liverpool have a homegrown Guehi in 18-year-old "Rolls-Royce"

Liverpool may have to look inwards after missing out on signing Marc Guehi on deadline day.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 2, 2025

Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma appears to be out of Thomas Frank’s long-term plans, or so we thought.

The 29-year-old really hasn’t made a great impression since Frank’s arrival at the club this summer, with Spurs’ new boss publicly damning Bissouma for his lateness to training and repeated disciplinary issues.

The former Brighton star is yet to make a single competitive appearance for Frank since he took charge, thanks partly to injury, but it spoke volumes about Bissouma’s situation when he was left out of Tottenham’s 22-man Champions League squad.

Now, if Bissouma remains in N17, he won’t be able to make a single European appearance until after the league phase, if Spurs even make it that far.

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Frank has been unimpressed with Bissouma behind-the-scenes, and the consensus is that Tottenham are prepared to sell the £100,000-per-week ace before his contract expires in 2026.

Other reports suggest that Tottenham could even let Bissouma leave on loan, potentially to get his wages off the books for a brief period before he eventually departs for free next year — if Spurs cannot find an outright buyer.

In any case, with the Turkish, Portuguese, Mexican and Saudi transfer windows still open, the Lilywhites still have an opportunity to offload Bissouma outside the UK window deadline.

Fenerbahçe were credited with a serious summer interest in the African, but a move failed to materialise. Galatasaray also held talks to sign Bissouma on loan with an obligation to buy, according to The Mail, and Spurs are believed to value him at around £20 million.

He played a key role in Tottenham’s route to victory in the Europa League final against Man United in May, even starting the full 90 minutes against Ruben Amorim’s side, but Frank’s stance on Bissouma is crystal clear in comparison to Ange Postecoglou.

Fabrizio Romano shares Yves Bissouma twist out of Tottenham

Now, Fabrizio Romano has shared an intriguing twist on his future, after the consistent reports of him being set for a move away.

According to the reliable journalist, speaking to GiveMeSport’s newsletter, Spurs actually aren’t looking to get rid of Bissouma right now after all, with the situation described as “quiet”.

The introduction of Frank has seriously altered Bissouma’s role in the squad, coming after the ex-Seagulls star shined at times under Postecoglou.

The now-Nottingham Forest boss and Bissouma enjoyed a close relationship, and the player even described him as a father figure. Elsewhere, Pape Sarr praised Bissouma for his influential role behind-the-scenes in 2024.

Tottenham opened their Champions League account for the campaign with a 1-0 win over La Liga side Villarreal in north London on Tuesday night, with a calamitous own goal from goalkeeper Luiz Junior gifting Thomas Frank’s side a precious three points.

It was a tight, cagey affair, and Villarreal had chances of their own to level, including a late free-kick in a dangerous area, but former Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe blazed it over the bar.

Micky van de Ven

7.4

Djed Spence

7.3

Rodrigo Bentancur

7.3

Mohammed Kudus

7.2

Santiago Mourino

7.1

via WhoScored

Pape Sarr also forced a low, outstretched save from Luiz on 30 minutes to keep the score at 1-0, and that’s how it stayed, with there being precious few highlights from the fairly uneventful victory — not that Frank is complaining too much as Spurs make it four wins from five in all competitions.

Midfielder Lucas Bergvall also continued his fine start to the season with a Man of the Match display against Villarreal, outshining the likes of Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus in what was another excellent performance.

It’s been an excellent start to life under the Dane, but Tottenham’s restructured boardroom – headed by CEO Vinai Vinkatesham and minus ex-chair Daniel Levy – will bear in mind that Ange Postecoglou made the best start by any other manager in Premier League history when he first joined the club in 2023.

However, with the form on display by some of his key men, especially defensively, the early signs are extremely promising.

Frank’s side have conceded just three goals in six games this season, including the UEFA Super Cup final, with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero proving imperious at the back for Tottenham.

Jamie O'Hara says Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero "walk" into Real Madrid

Speaking on talkSPORT, pundit Jamie O’Hara has claimed that Romero and van de Ven are the best centre-back partnership in the world right now, going on to claim that both of them stroll into Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid side.

The duo have been vital for Frank since he took over from Postecoglou, and the numbers speak for themselves.

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero shining for Tottenham

Van de Ven complements Romero by offering strong aerial ability, searing pace and consistency in clearances and interceptions.

The Dutchman’s clean-sheet rate when fit and his ability to handle one-on-one duels have become key for Spurs. Romero, meanwhile, brings aggression, leadership, and experience, especially in big games.

In Postecoglou’s final season, they featured in 18 matches together, during which Tottenham conceded just 20 goals.

Together, what van de Ven lacks in experience, Romero makes up for with leadership and composure; and while the latter’s aggressive defending sometimes invites risk, the former helps cover for him. Their strengths balance each other out, and it is clear that the pair remaining fit will be crucial to Tottenham’s prospects this season.

Inter Milan are one of Italy’s most successful clubs in history and lifted the Serie A title as recently as 2024.

In the 2025/26 season, the Nerazzurri have an annual payroll of €139,700,000, with the average player earning €4.8m per season. But who earns what at the San Siro? Every Inter player in the first-team squad has been ranked in order from highest to lowest in terms of wages for the 2025/2026 season, with the help of Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

1

Lautaro Martinez

€320,577

€16,670,000

2

Nicolo Barella

€231,538

€12,040,000

3

Hakan Calhanoglu

€213,654

€11,110,000

4

Alessandro Bastoni

€195,962

€10,190,000

5

Manuel Akanji

€178,077

€9,260,000

6

Piotr Zielinski

€160,192

€8,330,000

7

Marcus Thuram

€147,885

€7,690,000

8

Federico Dimarco

€142,500

€7,410,000

9

Stefan de Vrij

€135,385

€7,040,000

10

Davide Frattesi

€99,808

€5,190,000

11

Denzel Dumfries

€98,654

€5,130,000

12

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

€93,654

€4,870,000

13

Luis Enrique

€89,308

€4,630,000

=14

Ange-Yoan Bonny

€71,154

€3,700,000

=14

Andy Diouf

€71,154

€3,700,000

=16

Yann Sommer

€61,731

€3,210,000

=16

Matteo Darmian

€61,731

€3,210,000

18

Carlos Augusto

€54,231

€2,820,000

=19

Josep Martinez

€53,462

€2,780,000

=19

Francesco Acerbi

€53,462

€2,780,000

=19

Josep Martinez

€53,462

€2,780,000

=19

Petar Sucic

€53,462

€2,780,000

24

Yann Aurel Bisseck

€36,923

€1,920,000

25

Francesco Pio Esposito

€35,577

€1,850,000

26

Tomas Palacios

€21,346

€1,110,000

27

Raffaele Di Gennaro

€5,385

€280,000

Here's a detailed look at Inter's top 10 earners… 10 Davide Frattesi €99,808 per week

Midfielder Davide Frattesi scored an iconic Champions League winner against Barcelona during Inter’s route to the final in 2025.

He made his transfer from Sassuolo permanent in 2024 and is under contract until 2028.

9 Stefan de Vrij €135,385 per week

Experienced centre-back Stefan de Vrij has now played more games for Inter than any of his previous clubs, having joined in 2018.

Formerly of Feyenoord and Lazio, the Dutchman signed his latest Inter deal in 2023. However, he is currently set to be out of contract in 2026.

8 Federico Dimarco €142,500 per week

Academy graduate Federico Dimarco is arguably one of the best left-wing backs in Europe right now.

However, it hasn’t been plain sailing for Dimarco, who has had spells with Ascoli, Empoli, Sion, Parma and Hellas Verona before starring with Inter.

7 Marcus Thuram €147,885 per week

Inter were able to offer Marcus Thuram an eye-catching €7.69m per-year salary in 2023 after the forward became a free agent.

Thuram left Borussia Monchengladbach and has impressed at the San Siro since joining Inter, with his deal not expiring until 2028.

6 Piotr Zielinski €160,192 per week

Another free agent brought in at the San Siro was midfielder Piotr Zielinski, who left rivals Napoli in the summer of 2024.

The Poland international had spent eight years with the Partenopei and four years with Udinese, so has plenty of experience in Serie A – something Inter will hope to benefit from until 2028.

5 Manuel Akanji €178,077 per week

Inter Milan signed Manuel Akanji on loan from Manchester City on deadline day in the summer of 2025 and have the option to make a move permanent in 2026.

The Swiss defender will collect €9.2m in wages during the 2025/26 season from the Italian giants.

4 Alessandro Bastoni €195,962 per week

Alessandro Bastoni was signed as a teenager back in 2017, arriving from Atalanta in a deal worth more than €30m.

In recent years, the Italy international has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in Europe, and luckily for Inter, he signed a five-year deal in 2023.

3 Hakan Calhanoglu €213,654 per week

Midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu swapped city rivals Milan for Inter in 2021 after leaving the former as a free agent.

HIs controversial move didn’t go down well with Rossoneri supporters, but Inter are the ones who have benefited from having the experienced Turkey international on their books, with his current deal running until 2027.

2 Nicolo Barella €231,538 per week

Italy international Nicolo Barella joined Inter on loan with an obligation to buy from Cagliari back in 2019 and has been an ever-present figure since then.

He has scored more than 20 goals and provided over 60 assists in blue and black, justifying his €230k per week wage. Barella’s deal doesn’t expire until 2029.

1 Lautaro Martinez €320,577 per week

Comfortably Inter’s highest-paid player is striker Lautaro Martinez, who signed his latest €16.67m per year deal in 2024 to end speculation of a move away.

The Argentinian, now the club captain, has been with Inter since 2018 and has won seven major honours with the Italian giants.

Being a goalkeeper may be the trickiest position on a football pitch, but in the Premier League, there’s nowhere to hide.

Whether you’re gunning for the title or hoping to stay up by the skin of your teeth, a top shot-stopper can make all the difference come the end of the season.

This year has once again highlighted the best and worst of those between the sticks, with Manchester City’s move for Gianluigi Donnarumma proving to be an eye-catching transfer.

Ranking factors

To help place every No 1 in the correct order from best to worst, we have considered the following criteria:

Current form – how well they have played over the last few months Club – whether their performances meet the required standards of their team Reliability – how trusted they can be to avoid errors Overperformance – whether they can make saves they would not be expected to

Rank

Player

Age

Club

Nation

Gianluigi Donnarumma

26

Man City

Italy

Alisson

33

Liverpool

Brazil

David Raya

30

Arsenal

Spain

Emiliano Martinez

33

Aston Villa

Argentina

Jordan Pickford

31

Everton

England

Matz Sels

33

Nottingham Forest

Belgium

Dean Henderson

28

Crystal Palace

England

Nick Pope

33

Newcastle

England

Robin Roefs

22

Sunderland

Netherlands

Bernd Leno

33

Fulham

Germany

Guglielmo Vicario

29

Tottenham

Italy

Djordje Petrovic

26

Bournemouth

Serbia

Senne Lammens

23

Man Utd

Belgium

Bart Verbruggen

23

Brighton

Netherlands

Caoimhin Kelleher

26

Brentford

Ireland

Robert Sanchez

27

Chelsea

Spain

Lucas Perri

27

Leeds

Brazil

Alphonse Areola

32

West Ham

France

Jose Sa

32

Wolves

Portugal

Martin Dubravka

36

Burnley

Slovakia

12 20-16 Martin Dubravka, Jose Sa, Alphonse Areola, Lucas Perri, Robert Sanchez

Robin Roefs cost Sunderland around £9m following their return to the Premier League, and after replacing Anthony Patterson as first choice at the Stadium of Light, made an excellent start in England.

Should he continue his form, the 22-year-old’s value will only increase, and he could have a big part to play in the Black Cats’ attempts to remain in the top flight.

8 Nick Pope Newcastle

Nick Pope’s season last time out was affected by injury, but he has still proved himself as a solid goalkeeper for Newcastle United.

Now a Wembley winner following Carabao Cup success, the former Burnley shot-stopper has formed part of an impressive Toon outfit that looks primed to secure Champions League football.

While perhaps past his best, Pope remains a goalkeeper who seems at home in the Premier League, though compared to his counterparts, middle of the pack feels about right.

7 Dean Henderson Crystal Palace

Dean Henderson is by no means the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, but he has finally found a home at Crystal Palace, where he is now flourishing following his exit from Manchester United.

Henderson has marshalled a relatively tight defence and helped the Eagles win the FA Cup and Community Shield.

6 Matz Sels Nottingham Forest

Matz Sels has been a delight for Nottingham Forest, epitomising his team’s role as the division’s surprise package by becoming one of the Reds’ most important players.

He also received the Golden Glove award alongside Arsenal’s David Raya after keeping 13 clean sheets in 24/25. Simply put, Forest wouldn’t rather have anyone else in goal than the Belgian.

Years

Club

2010-2014

Lierse

2014-2016

Gent

2016-2018

Newcastle

2017-2018

Anderlecht (loan)

2018-2024

Strasbourg

2024-present

Nottingham Forest

5 Jordan Pickford Everton

Jordan Pickford has been Everton and England’s number one for some time now, and he has continued to shine following David Moyes’ return to Merseyside.

His highlights last season included shutouts against Arsenal and Chelsea, while his status as the undisputed Three Lions No 1 has to count for something.

4 Emiliano Martinez Aston Villa

A Yashin Trophy winner, it’s difficult to criticise Emiliano Martinez too much, as for all of his wind-up antics and dodgy dancing, the Argentinian has continued to be a useful blockade in front of the Aston Villa goal.

Now highly experienced following his exploits on the international stage and in the Champions League, Martinez has matured – loosely speaking – into one of the top goalkeepers in the world.

3 David Raya Arsenal

David Raya has arguably been one of Arsenal’s most consistent players in recent seasons. The Spaniard totally vindicated Mikel Arteta’s decision to install him as the Gunners No 1 last season, and has continued to shine in goal at the Emirates Stadium, excelling at the top level.

He comfortably sits in the top three and has been rewarded with a new Arsenal contract in 2025.